After four years and nearly one million dollars, the meticulously rehabilitated Fabyan Windmill reopened to the public. Preservation Partners participated in the renovation work and fundraising for the rehabilitation of the Fabyan Windmill, an impressive five-story Dutch-style windmill.
"The Fabyan Windmill is the best example of an authentic Dutch windmill in the United States. Actually, it's a treasure, and would be the most popular windmill in the Netherlands (we currently have 1,000 windmills),” explained third-generation Dutch Windmill Maker Lucas Verbij from the Netherlands who was hired to lead the rehabilitation effort. The Fabyan Windmill is the most iconic figure in Geneva and is enjoyed by many as they drive by on Route 25.
The windmill is open on Sundays 12-3pm, June-September, and is operated by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County.
The windmill was built on a farm near Lombard in the mid-nineteenth century. Colonel Fabyan bought the windmill, had it disassembled, moved to its current location at his Riverbank estate, and rebuilt. The evidence suggests the windmill was rarely used for its original purpose of grinding grain. For the most part, it is believed the windmill, to the Fabyans, was simply a very large lawn ornament. 😂
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